About Norbord Norbord is one of the World’s leading manufacturers of

engineered wood-based panel products. Our products are

used extensively in the construction, furniture and DIY sectors.

Norbord’s success comes from the pursuit of excellence in all

areas. This is a key driver within Norbord and is integral to
how we manage our business. Across all functions we aim to About Caberwood MDF p3

deliver the highest level of achievement as standard.

Product range p5

The result is a company that is responsive with dependable

Application guidance p7
and dedicated customer service without compromising safety
or the environment. Working with Caberwood MDF p9

Norbord is committed to sourcing all of its timber Technical data p17

from responsibly managed forests. All of our European
manufacturing facilities have the capacity to produce Norbord across the globe p19

products certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards.

The FSC product label allows consumers worldwide to

recognise products that support the growth of responsible
forest management. In an increasingly environmentally
aware marketplace, many demand the FSC mark on their
wood products. With Norbord it comes as standard.
3 / 4 | Caberwood MDF

About Caberwood MDF

Investing in the next

Norbord has the distinction of owning
the World’s first site to manufacture
MDF. This pioneering development
began back in 1966 at our facility
in Deposit, New York State. Later in
1979, our Cowie facility was the first
to produce MDF in the UK.
generation
Although we were the first MDF
manufacturer in the UK, we are
never complacent. This means
constantly looking at improving
our manufacturing process –
by investing in plant, energy
conservation and new product
development.

Today, MDF is one of the most popular So when you specify Caberwood
MDF you know you are buying a
materials used in the furniture and product that is the best it can be.

construction industries. Norbord

continues to be a leader in MDF
production and development.

Caberwood MDF is designed to exacting

tolerances, to give you peace of mind
that the product you are using is
engineered to perform.
 5 / 6 | Caberwood MDF

Product range Product range

Ultralight & Light Standard Moisture Resistant Deep Rout Grades

Caberwood Ultralight is 31% lighter Caberwood Standard MDF is Caberwood Moisture Resistant MDF Caberwood Deep Rout MDF offers
than standard MDF, providing a weight used extensively throughout the is designed for interior applications a high level of performance when
saving of 10kg per 8x4 sheet. This low construction and furniture that may be subject to occasional being used with wood–working
density board is ideal for theatre industries. With excellent surface wetting or exposure to humidity. tools. Caberwood Deep Rout Excel
scenery, film sets and exhibitions. properties and consistent quality - All the desirable properties of is the ultimate MDF, ideal for
its reputation is second to none. Caberwood standard are enhanced advanced routing, allowing more
Caberwood Light MDF is up to 20% with the additional benefits of: complicated profiles to be cut.
lighter than Standard MDF. • Incredibly versatile
• E1 low emission resin binders
• Suitable for humid environments • Excellent machining characteristics
• High internal bond strength
• Economical • Excellent stability in damp conditions • Outstanding paint finishes
• Superior holding of screws and fasteners
• Environmentally friendly • Good machining characteristics • Minimum surface preparation
• E1 low emission resin binders
Suitable for all types of machining and surface finishing.
• Opens up new design possibilities Typically used for kitchen and bathroom furniture, window sills, Typically used for bedroom and kitchen doors and also where
• Prolongs life of tools and equipment skirting boards and door architraves. a high gloss PVC finish is required.

Ideal for many applications where weight is a design requirement,

such as shopfitting and caravan manufacture.
 7 / 8 | Caberwood MDF

Application guidance

The following table provides general

guidance. For advice on the best
product for your specific application,
please contact Norbord customer services
or technical support on +44 (0) 1786 812921.

* Design criteria can vary significantly depending on specifications, the equipment you are using and the finish you intend to apply.
The above table provides general guidance only. It is recommended that you conduct small scale pilot tests to ensure you have the correct
grade for your end use.
** Other thicknesses are available on request.
 Suitable

Caberwood MDF Moisture Resistant Caberwood MDF Standard

 9 / 1 0 | Caberwood MDF
Working with Caberwood MDF
Profiling
Profiled edges require no edge
banding or lipping. Sculptured or
textured effects can be machined
or embossed, and narrow or
small door frames can be
produced from a single piece of
board. Caberwood MDF has a
smooth surface that is ideal for
painting, grain printing or the
application of paper foils and
veneers. In many respects
Caberwood MDF can be treated
as a high quality timber, but
without the inherent defects
of knots and grains.
A major advantage of
Caberwood MDF is the relative
ease of finishing perpendicular
and moulded edges without
the need for elaborate filling
or the application of adhesive
bonded edging materials. This
characteristic derives from the
uniform density of Caberwood
MDF, and the absence of core
voids which would require filling.
Sanding
Sanding after moulding or
routing produces a much
smoother finish. The moulded
edges can be sanded with any
number of different profile
sanders. Various polyurethane
based abrasive wheels are
available to fit to spindle
moulders or in line with a double
end tenoner. These wheels can
be shaped to the cutter profile
using an abrasive paper glued
to the desired edge profile.
80/100 grit should be used for
the removal of cutter marks.
120/150 grit is usually used for
finish sanding with finer grades
available, if required.
Working with Caberwood MDF
Machining
Caberwood MDF is a
homogeneous wood fibre
material ideally suited to modern
machine tooling.
Caberwood MDF can be worked
easily with all conventional
woodworking machines. It saws
cleanly and drills easily. It also
shapes and routs exceptionally
well, without splintering or
chipping. Caberwood MDF is
equally suited for use with most
hand tools.
Sawing
Follow these tips to ensure best
results, minimum breakout and
a longer tool life:
• Tungsten carbide saws are
recommended for general use.
• Saw blades should have higher
clearance angles and increased
tool angles compared with
normal wood–working saws.
• Clearance angles should be
maintained when the saw is
serviced. Reduced angles will
increase the amount of resin
build up. Increased angles
will reduce the life between
sharpening.
• Chipload - which is the
thickness of chip cut by each
tooth - should be in the range
of 0.15 to 0.25mm. The feed
rate required to produce this is
calculated as follows:
Feed rate (mm/min) =
Chipload x r.p.m. x no. of teeth
 1 1 / 1 2 | Caberwood MDF
Advice on fixing
Mechanical joints and fixings
Mechanical fittings developed
for use with particleboard can be
applied to MDF with the
following recommendations:
• Wherever possible select fittings
that depend upon face fixing.
• Avoid fittings which depend
upon the expansion of a
component inserted into the
board edge.
• When using screws follow
the pilot hole dimensions
recommended below.
Pilot holes
Larger diameter pilot holes than
those recommended for solid
wood and particleboard are
required in faces and edges of
MDF to accommodate the core
of the screw. For GKN
Superscrews the recommended
pilot diameter should be 85% to
95% of the screw core diameter.
Screw for panel jointing
Screwing
The internal bond strength of
Caberwood MDF gives
substantially better screw
holding over other types of
panel product.
Type of screw
Most types of screw can be used.
Best results are obtained with
parallel thread screws. A high
overall diameter to core ratio
is desirable.
This requirement is particularly
important when screwing into
the edges of thinner boards.
Pilot holes should be drilled
approximately 1mm beyond the
expected depth of insertion of
the screws into the board.
Screw for fixing thin attachments
Positioning
Screws which are inserted into
the face should not be less than
25mm from the corners. Screws
inserted into the edge should
not be less than 70mm from the
corners. Do not over tighten
screws as further turning after
screws are tight will reduce the
holding power.
Parallel thread - satisfactory
Traditional woodscrew - less satisfactory
Nailing and stapling
Where other methods of fixing
are not practical, Caberwood
MDF can be fixed with nails.
Nails should be spaced 150mm
apart to reduce the risk of
splitting and at least 70mm from
the corners. Nailing the edges of
9mm and 12mm Caberwood
MDF is not recommended
because of the risk of splitting.
Caberwood MDF can also be
fixed using staples. For best
results staples should not be
inserted closer than 12mm from
the edges and 25mm from the
corners. This fixing method is
only recommended for
applications involving light loads.
Close spacing of the staples is
acceptable but the legs should
be aligned at an angle of 15° to
the plane of the board.
Dowel with 0.1mm all round clearance preferred
Dowel joints
Dowel holes should be machined
with a sharp tool so that the
surfaces are free from loose
fibre. All dust should be removed
prior to assembly. The dowel
hole diameter should be slightly
larger than the dowel. This will
allow good adhesive cover and
avoid splitting of the edge.
Dowels with multiple
longitudinal or spiral groove
patterns ensure uniform
adhesive spread within the joint.
For best results dowels should be
given a total glue coverage.
Adhesives such as Polyvinyl
Acetate (PVA) or Urea
Formaldehyde are preferred as
they have good gap filling
properties, and their high solid
content counteracts absorption
of adhesive into the machined
edges of Caberwood MDF.
Smooth dowels are not
recommended, grooved dowels
are preferred
 1 3 / 1 4 | Caberwood MDF

Adhesive bonded joints Wall panels Advice on laminating

A wide variety of jointing methods can be adopted Caberwood MDF can be fixed using conventional dry lining Paper foils Heat transfer foil Wood veneering Choice of adhesive
providing the following simple guidelines are observed: techniques. For best results, follow these recommendations:
The smooth, stable surface of Heat transfer foil can be applied The smooth surface of Caberwood Caberwood MDF can be joined
• The joint parts should be accurately machined. • Before fixing, condition the board for a minimum of 24 hours Caberwood MDF makes it an to Caberwood MDF by a simple MDF provides a suitable with excellent results with most
• Sharp cutters should be used to avoid tearing or burnishing in the area of use. ideal substrate for surfacing with one-step drying process. When substrate for the application commercial brands of adhesives
of surfaces to be bonded. • An expansion gap of 10mm or 2.5mm per metre (whichever decorative paper. wood grain foil has been applied of wood veneer using Urea available to the Furniture and
• A high solids content adhesive with gap filling properties is the greater) must be allowed, on length and width. to a surface, a coat of lacquer Formaldehyde (UF) or Cross Joinery Industries. The choice
should be used. (Polyvinyl Acetate or Urea Formaldehyde). • Gaps are normally left as ‘feature gaps’, or they may be Flat platen presses developed for can be applied by conventional Linked Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) of a specific type of adhesive
• Mating pieces should be accurately located and held under concealed by a suitable cover strip. wood veneering are normally methods to provide additional adhesives as the bonding agent. will be determined by the surface
pressure while the adhesive is setting. • Provision should be made to ventilate the side fixed to battens. used for bonding heavier weight protection. The close thickness tolerance characteristics of the other
• The width of grooves machined in Caberwood MDF should • Fix boards to supports with screws as specified at 200mm intervals, foils (80g/m2 and higher). Short on Caberwood MDF ensures materials being bonded to the
be limited to about one third of the thickness of the board. 25mm from edges. Screw length should be 2.5 times board cycle platen presses and hot Resin impregnated papers uniformity of pressure over all MDF. Consult your individual
• The depth of groove should be about one half of the thickness. Use 400mm centres for boards of less than 12mm. roller laminators are normally panels in a press load. adhesive suppliers for more
board thickness. used for medium and lightweight Melamine resin impregnated detailed specific information.
• Adhesive bonded joints should be allowed to condition foils. Adhesive coating weights in papers can be laminated to Facing and backing veneers
for several days before sanding and finishing to avoid the the range 80-100g/m2 are typical MDF by following the same must have approximately equal
appearance of sunken joints. This treatment is essential for heavyweight foils and 60- procedures adopted for thickness and moisture content
when using high gloss finishes. 80g/m2 for medium and Melamine faced particleboard. to ensure flatness. Wood
• A tongue and groove joint is very efficient, provided the lightweight foils. veneered Caberwood MDF
fit of the joints is not too tight as this may cause a split panels should be stacked flat and
along the edge. PVC foils allowed to cool for a minimum
• When attaching lippings the tongue should be machined of 8 hours before further
on the solid wood piece. PVC foils are normally bonded processing.
at room temperature in a roller
laminator using copolymer
dispersions or epoxy adhesives.
The panels emerging from the
press should be stacked on a flat
base for several hours to allow
the bond to achieve full strength
before further processing.

Adhesive data

Polyvinyl Urea Copolymer Polyurethane

Acetate Formaldehyde Neoprene Dispersion Epoxide Hot Melt Solvent Based PMDI
Wood Veneering    
Plastic Laminate Veneering    
Paper Foil Laminating  
PVC Foil Laminating   
Edge Lipping or Banding    
Assembly Jointing    
Veneer Foil Wrapping   

 Suitable
Mitre joints between Caberwood MDF panels
 1 5 / 1 6 | Caberwood MDF
Advice on sealing and painting
The smooth surface of Caberwood
MDF makes it suitable for successful
finishing with a wide range of
coatings.
For information and advice on suitability
of paints and lacquers contact the following:
FIRA
Furniture Industry Research Association
www.fira.co.uk
SDF
Scottish Decorators Federation
www.scottishdecorators.co.uk
PDA
Painting and Decorating Association
www.paintingdecoratingassociation.co.uk
Alternatively, the natural
appearance of the MDF surface
can be enhanced using a
transparent stain with a clear
lacquer topcoat. High gloss or
matt finishes can be achieved.
The selection of the finishing
system, on the basis of chemical
type will depend on the scale of
production, application
equipment, drying facilities and
the expected performance of
the finish in relation to the
conditions of use. Modern
combined systems are possible,
e.g. u.v. sealers, basecoats / a.c.
(acid catalysed) topcoat.
The surfaces to be finished
should be free from dust or
sanding marks. Caberwood MDF
is suitable for most matt
finishing treatments without
further sanding. An additional
light sanding with 180/220 grit is
recommended when using
high gloss finishes or where
a minimum coating thickness
is required. High absorption
of lacquer or paint into the
machined edges of MDF can
be prevented by the application
of an appropriate sealer such
as shellac, polyurethane diluted
polyvinyl acetate (PVAC) or
specially formulated high solids
sealers based on two-component
catalysed resins. Edge sealing is
recommended. The sealed edges
can be stained if required, and
then finished with one or two
coats of clear or tinted lacquer
to match the finish on the surface.
Environmental credentials
Forest Stewardship Council
Norbord is committed to sourcing
all of its timber from responsibly
managed forests and therefore
all of our European manufactured
MDF products are certified to
Forest Stewardship Council
standards.
The FSC product label allows
consumers worldwide to recognise
products that support the growth
of responsible forest management.
In an increasingly environmentally
aware marketplace many demand
the FSC mark on their wood
products: with Norbord it comes
as standard.
At Norbord, all of our facilities
are regularly visited by a team of
environmental auditors, so there
is always something better to
strive for and a new standard to
set. This combines with our open
approach to business. Norbord is
a name you can trust to deliver,
and to keep its promises.
Investing in the environment
Norbord has invested heavily
in environmental improvements
since 1995. This includes air-
cleaning technology such as
state-of-the-art WESPS (wet
electrostatic precipitators).
It also means investment in
recycling facilities. We can
generate as much as half our
mill’s energy needs by using
wood residues as fuel –
composting what is left.
By reusing and conserving,
we safeguard the environment
and keep our costs down. In
turn, our products are good for
the environment and also good
for your budget.
All of our plants have obtained
the coveted environmental
ISO 14001 accreditation.
The ISO 14000 family addresses
environmental management.
This means what the
organisation does to:
• minimise harmful effects on
the environment caused by
its activities, and to
• achieve continual improvement
of its environmental
performance
 1 7 / 1 8 | Caberwood MDF

Technical data Transport and storage

Caberwood MDF should be: An HSE information sheet on the

Unit Ultralight Light Standard Moisture Deep Deep • Transported in uniform stacks ‘safe stacking of sawn material
Resistant Rout Rout
Excel on a flat base to avoid damage; and board materials’ is available
• Protected against the weather; on request.

Thickness mm 12 15 18 12/15 >6-12 >12-25 >25 >6-12 >12-25 >25 12/15/18 12/15/18 • Stored on a rigid flat base and
18/22 22/25 22/25 adequately ventilated;
• Insulated from the ground to
Thermal Conductivity avoid dampness.
‘K’ value W/m.K 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13 0.13
Internal Bond MPa 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.5 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.85 0.85 0.85 0.9 0.9
When wooden battens are used
Modulus of Rupture MPa 8 8 7 20.0 60.0 45.0 40.0 60.0 45.0 40.0 45.0 45.0 they shall be of uniform thickness
Modulus of Elasticity MPa 750 750 700 2500 5000 4000 3500 5000 5000 5000 5000 5000 and placed in line. The distance
Thickness Swelling (24hr) % 18 14 13 12 11 8 7 10 5 3 8 8 between battens should be no
*Dimensional Stability greater than 700-1,000mm.
mm/m 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
65%-85% Length
*Dimensional Stability
mm/m 0.4 0.4 0.4 4.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0
65%-85% Thickness
150mm 700-1,000mm 150mm
Screw Holding Edge N NA*2 NA*2 NA*2 750 NA 1000 1000 NA 1000 1000 1000 1000
Screw Holding Face N 552.5 552.5 552.5 650 NA 1250 1250 NA 1250 1250 1250 1250 Correct method of edge stacking Correct method of storage on battens
Moisture Content
(ex plant) % 5-9 5-9 5-9 5-9 8 ± 3% 8 ± 3% 8 ± 3% 8 ± 3% 8 ± 3% 8 ± 3% 8 ± 3% 8 ± 3%
Reaction to fire EN 13501-1 Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D Class D
#Total Extractable
mg/100g ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0 ≤8.0
Formaldehyde

Values are typical values in accordance with EN standards, EN 622-5 Low Emission
for Fibreboards: Specification – Part 5: Requirements for dry process All Caberwood MDF products conform to the latest European low
boards (MDF). emission standards ‘E1’. ‘E1’ signifies coated and uncoated MDF
* Dimensional Stability – a typical change in humidity is shown (BS EN panels which characteristically give ≤8mg/100g formaldehyde when
318) 65% r.h. - 85% r.h. (or vice versa) with the corresponding change tested in accordance with BS EN 120.
in length and width as a %. 85% r.h. is a humidity to simulate a damp
Caberwood MDF Panel Weight Guide
environment. BS EN 318 ‘Fibreboards - Determination of dimensional
changes associated with changes in relative humidity.’ For lifting & handling purposes using an 18mm panel thickness,
the following should be used as a guide weight (kg per m2).
*2 It is not recommended to fix into the edge of Ultralight MDF.
Caberwood MDF Light 10 kg/m2
# Determined using BS EN 120. Caberwood MDF Standard / Moisture Resistant 13 kg/m2
Caberwood MDF Deep Rout / Deep Rout Excel 14.5 kg/m2
Thickness tolerance for all grades is:
± 0.2mm ≤ 22mm Note: Calculations for guide weights for thicknesses other than
± 0.3mm > 22mm 18mm, are pro-rata, e.g. 12mm Caberwood MDF Light = 10 kg/m2 x
12/18 = 6.7 kg/m2.

Boards per pack

Board Size 6 9 12 15 16 18 19 22 25 28 30 36 38
2440 x 1220mm 96 76 60 48 44 40 37 32 32 28 24 20 20
2440 x 1525mm 92 70 56 45 41 30 35 30 24 18 22 16 18
2440 x 1830mm 76 60 48 36 34 30 29 24 24 21 18 16 15
3050 x 1220mm 78 60 48 36 36 30 30 26 24 20 18 16 15
2745 x 1220mm 87 64 53 42 39 36 33 29 25 23 24 18 17
3660 x 1220mm 62 48 36 28 26 24 30 26 24 21 20 15 15
 1 9 / 2 0 | Caberwood MDF
Norbord across the globe
Norbord across the globe
Norbord is one of the World’s
leading manufacturers of
engineered wood-based panels.
With our headquarters in
Toronto, we employ some 2,700
people worldwide with
approximately 1,200 of them
in Europe. We are publicly owned
and listed on the Toronto Stock
Exchange.
Corporate Office
Regional Office
Our facilities include
• 11 OSB mills
• 2 MDF plants
• 2 particleboard plants
• 1 speciality plywood mill
• 1 furniture plant
The result is a successful company
built on integrity, listening to our
customers and always improving
the way we work.
Oriented Strand Board
Medium Density
Fibreboard
Particleboard
Industry sectors served
Our products are used
extensively in the construction,
furniture and DIY sectors. From
tongued and grooved Caberfloor
ideal for flooring solutions,
to structural SterlingOSB
designed to withstand the
rigours of I-joists, all our
products are manufactured to
vigorous quality standards.
Plywood
Furniture
Components
Norbord in Europe and quality credentials
In Europe, we have four sites
• Cowie, Scotland
Tel +44 (0)1786 812921
Fax +44 (0)1786 815622
Caberwood MDF
Caberboard
Caberfloor
Caberdek
• Inverness, Scotland
Tel: +44 (0)1463 792424
Fax: +44 (0)1463 791764
SterlingOSB2
SterlingOSB3
Sterling Roofdek
• South Molton, England
Tel: +44 (0)1769 572991
Fax: +44 (0)1769 572413
Conti
Caberboard
Furniture Components
• Genk, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)89 500300
Fax: +32 (0)89 362971
SterlingOSB Conti
Cowie Scotland
CE Marking
The CE mark (from the French,
‘Conformité Européan’) is
intended to promote the free
movement of products within
the EU by showing that essential
health and safety requirements
have been met.
The CPD (Construction Products
Directive) applies standards to
the finished works into which
construction products are to be
used, rather than applying
directly to the products
themselves. These quality
standards ensure that:
Inverness Scotland
• The product has been subject
to an appropriate system of
attestation of conformity with
one or more technical
specifications;
• The product does in fact
conform with the relevant
aspects of the identified
technical specifications; and
• Therefore, the product is fit for
its express intended use or with
its implied range of suitable uses.
South Molton England Genk Belgium
 2 1 / 2 2 | Caberwood MDF
Values and beliefs
The people of Norbord Europe have adopted a common set of values
which have been built through open communication and dialogue
reflective of mutual respect. They can be summarised in three words:
Commitment to helping
our customers be successful
Our people recognise that if our
customer relationships are not
based on win-win outcomes,
then they are not sustainable.
This belief drives our strategy of
focusing on key customers and
working with them to ensure
mutual benefits over the long
term. Benefits based on
continuing improvements in
customer service, product and
business development, supply
chain effectiveness and technical
support.
The only valid gauge of our
success in this commitment, is
whether our customers believe
and say we’re doing it.
Trust and personal
responsibility in all
relationships
We believe that each of our
people has the capability and
commitment to maximise his/her
contribution and the desire to
take responsibility for their
actions.
Our collective goal is to set clear
objectives and to deliver on all
promises and commitments.
This philosophy applies whether
we’re engaged with customers,
suppliers, fellow members of
Norbord, shareholders, or with
the community at large.
Excellence as our standard
Our goal is to have an
organisation which is capable of
excellence and of delivering
it consistently in the areas critical
to our business.
These include the following:
• Safety
• Managing beyond customer
expectations
• Supply chain management
• Cost management
• Capacity assurance
• Organisational effectiveness
Customer support
Logistics
At Norbord, we run our own
specialist logistics service. A service
known for its reliability; a service
that guarantees availability.
Available to selected accounts,
our unique Fastrack guarantee
goes even further.
How Fastrack can work for you:
• Assured supply
• Direct delivery to your customers
• One order point for all products
• Improved stock turnover
Our range of logistical options
adds up to on time and in full
delivery.
Technical support
At Norbord, our experienced
technical team is on hand to deal
with enquiries from architects,
builders, contractors – in fact
anyone involved in the
specification or use of Norbord’s
engineered wood-based panels.
Rest assured – our commitment
will continue throughout your
project and beyond.
MSDS
Material Safety Data-Sheets are
available for all Norbord products.
Please contact Norbord Technical
Support or visit www.norbord.com
Training
For many years Norbord’s As a member of the Construction
technical sales personnel have CPD Certification Service, you
been providing training aimed can be safe in the knowledge
at improving the knowledge and that Norbord’s training is
skills of: amongst the best in the industry.
• Construction professionals
• Specifiers
• Merchant and distribution staff
• Technical support staff
• Sales personnel
 UKBRCABERWOOD V4 05/08

At Norbord, we realise the environment is fundamental

to our future. This brochure has been printed on paper Cert no. TT-COC-002612

stock that is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified.